iRulu Brand 4GB USB MP3 WMA Music Player FM Radio Voice Recorder(Black)

OVERALL: A good MP3 player which operates on a single replaceable AAA. Good for audiobooks and other general purposes. It is also sold under the Coby brand at 2x to 4x the price of the Irulu version. Despite comments of other reviewers, it DOES play standard WMA files (e.g., made by ripping CDs with Windows Mediaplayer). I have not tried protected-WMA files.FOR AUDIOBOOKS:> Folders play in the order loaded. Tracks (within folders) play in alpha-numeric order. So, if your audiobook is in multiple folders (as it will be if ripped from CDs using Mediaplayer), then load the folders, one-at-a-time in the order you want them to play. The tracks within each folder will play in the proper order.> If you stop play, turn off the player and restart, the player restarts where you left off--perfect for audiobooks (oddly this feature is NOT available on most other MP3 players).> Plays MP3 and WMA files. Also plays many other file types such as WMV, ASF, WAV, etc.> The included earbuds are adequate for listening to audiobooks.FOR MUSIC ALBUMS> Folders play in the order loaded. So, load your albums (folders) in the order you want them to play. Tracks (within folders) play in alpha-numeric order. If you want individual tracks to play in a different order, then add alphanumeric prefixes, such as "aa", "bb" or "01" "02" to the names of each track. If you stop play and turn off the player, the player restarts where you left off.EARBUDS: The included Airline/Apple-type earbuds are poor. I recommend Coby J-buds  JBuds Hi-Fi Noise-Reducing Ear Buds (White)  J-buds are great for use in public or noisy places. At home, etc., inexpensive behind-the-neck headphones are the most comfortable.  GE 95352 Lightweight Behind-the-Neck Headphone (Black) PROS> Nice swiveling connector. With a key-type clip or "caribiner" (not included) can easily attach to beltloops, etc. Alternatively, an easy way to carry the player is from a short light neckcord.  COSMOS 5 pcs Black Neck Strap Band Lanyard For Camera, Cell phone, mp3, mp4 and other Lightweight Electronic Devices > Takes a single (changeable) AAA battery, which I consider more convenient than having to plug into a computer when the rechargeable battery (of other players) dies.> Unlike many MP3 players, can be operated by touch because the three control buttons are at distinctly different locations (top, front, and bottom)> Built-in full-size USB plug is nominally a plus, but most computer USB connectors are recessed, which means you need a short USB extension cord anyway.> Numerous options (equalize, shuffle etc.), if you want to bother to explore and set them, but works fine "out-of-the-box" with the default settings.> Thank heaven for the lack of a stupid "repeat" button, which can accidentally get you caught in an endless loop. Repeat is available via the menu if you want it.CONS> Neither the USB plug cover nor the battery cover are attached, and therefore are easy to loose. To replace the battery, you have to remove both covers.> The "mode lever" is too easy to move--probably a problem if you carry the player in your pocket, but not so much if you "hang" it from a belt loop etc.> Most functions depend on pressing either quickly or less-quickly, etc. It often takes alot of fiddling to do what you want to do. It could use a dedicated "navigation" button.> It is hard to tell which selection is chosen in the menus, because selections are indicated only by a slight shadow.> Unnecessarily large and bulky (compared to the Creative Zen Nano {no longer available} which also ran on a single AAA battery.> When you turn it on, a tiny message "starting" appears which is hard to see.> There is no indication on the main display what folder you are playing. (although a great amount of other useless information is displayed)> Other than the display freezing, there is no indication that you are in "pause" mode.BASIC OPERATION:> Insert an AAA battery, plug into your computer USB port, "drag and drop" MP3 or WMA files from your computer.> To turn on, press the big "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button in front.> With the "mode lever" select "MSC" (music).> To play, click the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button.> To adjust the volume, click the + or - toggle at the bottom of the player> To move forward one track, click the "mode lever" to the right> To move backward one track, click the "mode lever" to the left> To move forward within a track (to "fast forward"), push the "mode lever" to the right> To move backward within a track (to "reverse"), push the "mode lever" to the left> To pause, click the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button.> To turn off, press the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button> To restart, press the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button."click" means to press and quickly release; "press" means to press and hold for a second or so; "push" means to push and hold as long as necessaryIn short, the "ON/OFF/PLAY/PAUSE" button is very easy to find by touch and handles all routine operations (except "forward" and "backwards"), which is very convenient.MAXIMIZING BATTERY LIFE: The best strategy to maximize battery life is to use J-buds (or similar in-the-ear earbuds) mentioned above. They are very "efficient" which means that they produce the same volume at a lower power drain. To test the efficiency of headphones, just plug them in and listen (without adjusting the volume)---the loudest will be the most efficient.INSTRUCTIONSDespite the complaints of other reviewers that the "manual" is poor--in fact it is better written and more complete than most inexpensive Chinese electronics. Oddly the instruction "manuals" vary between the colors. If the three players I purchased (red, blue, black), the black one came with the most complete instructions.> Click on “Stoney” just below the product title to see my other reviews, or leave a comment to ask a question.

I gave it a 4 because although I do like it, it as difficult to decipher the directions.Basically take the music files you want, create a playlist in windows media player and then move said folder to sync. Plug in the device-after using the mode lever to move to record. Hit sync now on the media player and it will quickly copy everything.THEN when you wanna ck that it worked, plug in your earphones, use lever again to music and PUSH the lever in toward MP3 player. It should light up and show you the song and you use the lever to move forward or backward. *Warning if you put entire albums on it you either listen to the whole album or none it wont skip songs that way. Individual songs you put in the sync list can be skipped song by song. Albums you choose to skip skip the whole album. One AAA battery is all you need to make it portable, it can also be charged via USB port in computer. After I figured all of that out (took about 20 minutes, I saw how easy it was to use and I really do like it. No crumbling or crazy things have happened as some others have said it did to them.

The player sounds good. It has plenty of space and for storage. Format errors appear when player is left on hold for a few minutes. Player powers up after turning it off. I still have not figured out what causes it? Just sitting it down and not touching it. I come back 30 minutes later and its on? Not good for battery life. FM radio works but weak reception. I have not used the record function. I listen to books and not music. When format errors appear you end up taking the battery out and putting it back in and restarting. You loose your place in book and have to start at the beginning. It has a fast forward feature that isn't fast at all. It would take forever to fast forward an hour. All these little things add up to trouble. The price would be great if they worked trouble free. They don't, I'm not satisfied and will not recommend to a friend.

If you have more time than money, this is an OK device. All of the functions are controlled by the mode switch, which I found to be temperamental and tricky to use. I've only used this as an MP3 player and for that it is adequate. There isn't much in the way of instructions provided and no online manual that I know of so you'll be doing a lot of trial and error. The display is small and hard to read despite the availability of multicolored back lighting. I bought it mainly to plug into a small stereo system on the patio and for that purpose it's OK so I can say I got my money's worth however if you're looking for something that is more versatile and easier to use, you'll probably have to spend more.

It literally crumbled in my hand. I got to use it maybe two days. As I stated in another review on MP3s it's a mistake to get a different color from the original. My brother, sister and myself got the blue one and they worked for a long time. They are easy to break though because the face of it is glass. Even after you break the glass of the blue one, it still works and you can still listen to your music. It's a good price for a nice MP3....as long as you don't get THIS one.

Bought 2 of these, one for me and one for my wife.Pros: Inexpensive, sounds decent(especially if you replace the crappy ear buds that come with it), compact.Cons: Interface not particularly intuitive, no instructions worth mentioning and display is hard to see.I use this for music while working out and as long as you don't get it wet it works great. Mine is still going strong over a year later. My wife's got sweat in the USB interface which rusted and stopped working. It still plays but she can't change the music!

If you don't want to drain your phone using MP3s, this is a great way to go. Works well with adapter in the car, and also at the gym. Buttons are a bit hard to use, and the menu can be very unclear at times. Yet when you get the hang of it the player works great for a very nice price.